Connect with us

News

Jindan Murder: Protests in support of accused continue despite police confirms murder

Published

on

Jindan myrder case

Sirmaur: The Additional Superintendent of Police, Nahan, Virender Singh, on Thursday confirmed that RTI activist and BSP leader Kedar Singh Jindan was brutally murdered on September 7, 2018. The police has received the autopsy report but was yet to receive reports of forensic tests and call details.

As per the ASP, the accused first contacted Jindan phonically and asked him to come down on the road.

On arrival, he was beaten badly. When he fell on the road after losing consciousness, Jaiprakash run over Jindan thrice and the face of the victim was completely crushed,

the ASP told media.

The Special Investigation Team formed to probe this case has also recovered the weapon (iron rod) used to assault him.

The SIT said it has solved the case and only a few small legal formalities remain to be completed. On Wednesday, accused were taken to the spot to recreate the scene. Though SIT did not confirm it, a Hindi daily said all three accused have confessed their crime.

So far, total three persons including the up-pradhan of panchayat Jaiprakash have been arrested. Third accused Karm Singh was arrested on Tuesday by the SIT. All three are on a police remand till September 17.

Protests in Support of Accused Continue

Despite confirmation by the police SIT regarding the murder, there appears to be a bid to spark casteist unrest by protestors. After Bakras, another protest was organized in Sataun region by locals in support of the accused. The protestors want the police to drop charges of murder under Section 302 against accused. They also burnt an effigy of the MLA, Theog, Rakesh Singha alleging him of inciting casteist propaganda over the killing of Jindan.

Further, these protestors are agitating against the inclusion of charges under the SC/ST Act in the FIR. Under this Act, the family of the victim is eligible for Rs. 8.25 lakh relief. The Education Minister Suresh Bhardwaj has already announced a relief of total Rs. 20 lakh, government job to Jindan’s wife, and free education to his children.

However, there is a resentment among the protesting group regarding this relief under the SC/ST Act. They are asking the police to drop the charges under this Act. 

At the same time, this group is maintaining that Shillai is a peaceful place and people of all castes live in harmony, which doesn’t seem to be the case considering their support to the accused. 

The case has provided an opportunity to fuel caste-based politics in the otherwise peaceful state. The protests in support of accused could create unrest among the SC/ST community.

Jindan Never Asked For Protection, He Had No Threat to Life: DGP

The Director-General of Police, HP, Sita Ram Mardi, on Wednesday told media that he never received any request for police protection from Jindan.

Jindan had met me in my Shimla office but never felt any threat to his life nor he demanded any security,

 DGP told PTI.

It’s pertinent to mention that the family of the victim had been maintaining that Jindan had sought police protection as he was receiving threats to life. It was alleged that despite request no protection was provided by police.

The police was facing scathing criticism over this matter. 

No Words Regarding Alleged BPL Fraud Jindan Tried to Expose

Amid a large number of updates regarding the case, so far no comments are being made regarding the authenticity of allegations labelled by Jindan against up-pradhan Jaiprakash. These allegations appear to be the immediate regions for this murder.  On June 29 this year, Jindan had held a press conference at the Press Club of Shimla. He had alleged that Jai Prakash had facilitated registration of well to do families in the Below Poverty Line category. Using BPL certificates, these families had allegedly managed to obtain government jobs along with other benefits. He had produced pictures showing bungalow and vehicles owned by the family.

He had told media that information regarding this fraud was received through an RTI. However, the district administration, police, and the State government is silent regarding it. 

News

HP Govt Employees to Get Higher Pay Scale on Completion of Two Years of Service: CM Jairam

Published

on

hp govt employess higher pay scale

Shimla-Himachal Pradesh Government employees working in different departments before January 3, 2022, would be given a higher scale at par with other employees on completion of two years tenure of regular service. A higher pay scale was also announced for the Junior Office Assistants (IT) on completion of two years of regular service.

Chief Minister Jairam Thakur made these announcements during the Karamchari Maha Sammelan of the Himachal Pradesh Non-Gazetted Employees Federation at the hotel Peterhof on Sunday.

He appreciated the role played by the employee especially frontline workers in the battle against the pandemic.

He said most of the government employees in the state have been given revised pay scales and on average, every employee has got the benefit of a 12 to 15 percent salary hike. There has also been an increase in the pension of about 1.50 lakh pensioners of the state. The financial benefits of Rs. 7801 crore have been given to state government employees and pensioners from the year 2018 to 2022. The pensioners who retired before 2016 are getting the benefit of a 15 to 20 percent increase in the pension while around 40 thousand pensioners who retired after 2016 would be benefitted soon, he said.

He said the daily wages were Rs. 210 in the year 2017 which has been increased by the present state government to Rs. 350. Similarly, 12 per cent interim relief annually has been provided to government employees and pensioners during the present government’s tenure. He said the Himachal government has provided Dearness Allowance to its employees and pensioners on the lines of Punjab and Central governments from the due date. The Punjab government has given only 5 percent interim relief to the employees while the Himachal government has provided 21 percent interim relief to its employees.

“Out of the total interim relief amount given to the employees and pensioners amounting to about Rs. 6500 crore, Rs. 3500 crore has been paid during the tenure of our government” added the Chief Minister.

He said that the state government has increased the government contribution for NPS employees from 10 percent to 14 percent benefitting more than one lakh employees. The NPS employees are being given the benefits of retirement and death gratuity at par with employees falling under the old pension scheme. The government has also increased the upper limit of death gratuity from Rs. 10 lakh to Rs. 20 lakh.

The Chief Minister said the state government has also increased the honorarium of para-workers working in various departments. The salary of outsource workers has been hiked by Rs 1,500 per month.

Non-Gazetted Employees Federation President Ashwani Thakur thanked the Chief Minister for providing various financial and other benefits to different categories of government employees.

Continue Reading

Nation

Most Covid Restrictions to be Lifted From March 31, Mask and Hand Hygiene to Continue

Published

on

all caovid restriction lifted in himachal pradesh

New Delhi-The Centre has issued a notification to the States informing that the provisions of the Disaster Management (DM) Act, 2005 will not be invoked in the country after March 31. The Union Health Ministry said that the use of face masks and following hand hygiene will continue.

It implies that most of the Covid-related rules and restrictions would end.

Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla issued the notification which said that the decision was taken following the overall improvement in the situation and the preparedness of the government in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, local authorities and State police can still invoke fines and criminal cases against persons violating COVID-19 norms under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), a senior government official said.

The DM Act was invoked on March 24, 2020, due to the pandemic

“Over the last seven weeks or so there has been a steep decline in the number of cases. The total caseload in the country stands at 23,913 only and the daily positivity rate has declined to 0.28%. It is also worth mentioning that with the combined efforts, a total of 181.56 Cr vaccine doses have been administered,” the notification said.

“I would like to mention that in view of the nature of the disease, we still need to remain watchful of the situation. Wherever any surge in the number of cases is observed, the States/UTs may consider taking prompt and proactive action at a local level, as advised by MoHFW (Health Ministry) from time to time,” the notification said.

The Indian government had issued various guidelines and measures for the first time on March 24, 2020, under the Disaster Management Act to curb the COVID-19 situation in the country, which have been modified several times thereafter.

India currently has 23,087 active COVID-19 cases and recorded 1,778 new cases and 62 deaths in the last 24 hours. The daily positivity rate has also declined to 0.28%.

Continue Reading

News

HP Cabinet Decisions: Country Liquor Made Cheaper in New Excise Policy, Read All Decisions

Published

on

hp cABINET DECISIONS MARCH 20,2022

Shimla-A meeting of the Himachal Pradesh Cabinet was held on March 20, 2022, under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur.

The excise policy for the financial year 2022-23 was approved. Approval was also given for the renewal of retail excise vends in the state for the financial year 2022-23 at the renewal fees of 4% of the value of unit/vend.

The State Government said that wants to enhance the government revenue and curb the smuggling of country liquor from the neighbouring states by a reduction in its price.

The brands of Country Liquor will be cheaper as license fees have been reduced. This will help in providing good quality liquor at a cheaper rate to the consumers.

In the new excise policy, the 15% fixed quota of country liquor for manufacturers and bottlers to be supplied to the retail licensees has been abolished. According to the government, this step will give the retail licensees to lift their quota from the suppliers of their choice and further assure the supply of good quality country liquor at competitive prices. The MRP of country liquor will be cheaper by 16% of the existing price.

In this year’s policy, the Gaudhan Vikas Nidhi Fund has been enhanced by Re.1/- from the existing Rs.1.50 to Rs.2.50.

The fixed annual license fee of Bars has been rationalized by abolishing the area-specific slabs of license fee. Now throughout the State, there will be uniform license slabs based upon the room capacity in hotels.

Rates of the annual fixed license fee of Bars in the tribal areas has been reduced considerably.

Further, all the above stakeholders will have to install CCTV cameras at their establishments as it was made mandatory for them.

Wholesale vends and retail vends, the penalty provisions under the H.P. Excise Act, 2011 have been made more stringent.

An end to end online Excise Administration System would be established in Himachal Pradesh, the government said.

HP Government estimates a collection of Rs 2131 crore revenue during the year, which will be Rs. 264 crores higher than the financial year 2021-22 – growth of 14% in state excise revenues.

The Cabinet also gave its nod to amend Himachal Pradesh Disaster Relief Manual-2012 to include deaths due to biting of honey bees, hornet and wasps, accidental drowning and deaths due to accidents of vehicles (including land, water and air) under this Manual.

The Cabinet gave its approval for filling up 11 posts of ‘A’ Class Tehsildar in Revenue Department through direct recruitment on regular basis through Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission.

HP State Toll Policy 2022-23

The HP Cabinet also gave its nod to HP State Toll Policy for the year 2022-23 which envisages auction cum tender for all the toll barriers in the State. During the year 2021-22, toll revenue has registered a growth of 20 percent of the previous year’s revenue.

Continue Reading

Trending